ANALYSIS OF

TRUSSES
Method of Joints
Method of Sections
Stephen Timoshenko
(1878-1972)
• renowned expert, teacher and writer widely regarded as
“the father of applied mechanics” in the U.S. So great
was his influence that his active years in the field
became known as “the Timoshenko era.”

• came to Stanford in 1936 and stayed for the next two decades.
He authored 13 popular textbooks; the best known of these,
“Strength of Materials,” was first published in Russia in 1911. His
“Engineering Mechanics” text was translated into over 10
languages.
◀ Learning Outcomes
01 • To solve for the magnitude of forces acting on
02 each member of the truss using the method of
03 joints
04
• To solve for the magnitude of forces acting on
05
each member of the truss using the method of
06
sections
▶
• To determine whether a member of a truss is
in tension or compression
◀
01
02
03
04
05
06
▶
◀
01 A TRUSS
is a structural member usually
02
03
04 fabricated from straight pieces of
05
06 metal or timber to form a series of
▶
triangles lying in a single plane.
 What are the basic parts of a
◀
01
simple truss?
02
03
04
05
06
▶
 How do they support loads?
◀
01
02
03
04
05
06
▶
METHOD OF JOINTS
 METHOD OF JOINTS
◀
01
02 o This method is based on the fact that if the
03 entire truss is in equilibrium, then each of its
04
joints is also in equilibrium.
05
o Therefore, if the free-body diagram of each
06
▶
joint is drawn, ΣFx = 0 and ΣFy = 0 hold true.
 Design Assumptions
◀
01
02
1. ALL LOADS ARE APPLIED AT THE JOINTS.
03
04
05
06
▶
 Design Assumptions
◀
01 2. THE MEMBERS ARE JOINED
02 TOGETHER BY SMOOTH PINS.
03
04
05
06
▶
 Result of the Design Assumptions
◀
01
EACH TRUSS MEMBER WILL ONLY BE
02
03
SUBJECTED TO AXIAL LOADS which
04 could either be in:
05
06
a. Tension or
b. Compression
▶
◀
Zero-force Members
01
02
Complex truss analysis can be greatly simplified by first
03 identifying the “zero-force members”.
04
05 A zero-force member is one that is not subjected to any axial
load. Sometimes, such members are introduced into the truss
06
system to prevent the buckling and vibration of other members.
▶
 Zero-Force Members
The truss-member arrangements that result in zero force members are listed as follows:

1. If noncollinearity exists between two members meeting at a joint that is not subjected to
any external force, then the two members are zero force members (see Figure a).
 Zero-Force Members
2. If three members meet at a joint with no external force, and two of the members are collinear,
the third member is a zero-force member (see Figure b).
 Zero-Force Members
The truss-member arrangements that result in zero force members are listed as follows:

3. If two members meet at a joint, and an applied force at the joint is collinear to one member
and perpendicular to the other, then the member perpendicular to the applied force is a zero-
force member (see Figure c).
 Zero-Force Members

1. Find the Reaction @ D

2. Find 𝐹𝐶𝐸
3. Is CF under Tension or Compression?
 Procedure for Analysis
◀
1. Solve for the support reactions.
01 2. Select a joint to analyze (a joint with an unknown force ≤ 2) and
02 draw an isolated FBD of the selected joint. (Indicate the axial
03 forces in all members meeting at the joint as tensile. If this
initial assumption is wrong, the determined member axial
04
force will be negative in the analysis, meaning that the
05 member is in compression and not in tension.)
06 3. Apply the two equations ΣFx=0 and ΣFy=0 to determine the
▶ member axial forces.
4. Continue the analysis by proceeding to the next joint with two
or fewer unknown member forces.
2. Solve for the support reaction.
reactions.

D
3.Select a joint to analyze(say joint A.)
Draw the isolated FBD of the joint.

Ay=600 N B
A
D

4. Apply the two equations

ΣFx=0 and ΣFy=0 to determine
the member axial forces.
5. Continue the analysis by
proceeding to the next joint
with two or fewer unknown
member forces. After joint D,
repeat the procedure for the
other joints.
6. Continue the analysis by
proceeding to the next joint
with two or fewer unknown
member forces.
Summary of Results for Problem 1
Force Magnitude T or C

750 N C
F AB
450 N T
F AD
250 N T
F BD
600 N C
F BC
200 N C
F CD
SAMPLE PROBLEM
METHOD OF
SECTIONS
 METHOD OF SECTIONS
• Using this method, the internal force in
a particular truss member can be
determined directly.
• It is based on the principle that if the
truss is in equilibrium, then any
segment of the truss is also in
equilibrium.
 IMPORTANT POINTS
• Before isolating the appropriate section, it may first be
necessary to determine the truss’s support reactions. If
this is done, then the three equilibrium equations will be
available to solve for member forces in the section.

• Since there are 3 equilibrium equations that can be used,

ensure that the cut section will also expose three
unknown forces or less. If there are more than three
unknown forces in a particular cut section, the unknown
forces cannot be solved using the equilibrium equations
alone.
 IMPORTANT POINTS
• Always assume that the unknown member
forces at the cut section are tensile forces,
i.e., “pulling” on the member. By doing this,
the numerical solution of the equilibrium
equations will yield positive scalars for
members in tension and negative scalars
for members in compression.
 IMPORTANT POINTS

• Moment should be summed about a point

that lies at the intersection of the lines of
action of two unknown forces so that the
third unknown force can be determined
directly from the moment equation.
SITUATION A: Determine the force in
the following members and indicate
whether they are in tension or
compression:
1. BC 2. GC 3. GE
SITUATION B:
SITUATION C-1:
 SITUATION C-2:

Find the force in member DC. State whether the

force is in tension or compression.
SITUATION D:
SITUATION E:
 THANKS &
GOD BLESS.

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REFERENCES:

• https://eng.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Mechanical_Engineeri
ng/Introduction_to_Aerospace_Structures_and_Materials_(A
lderliesten)/02%3A_Analysis_of_Statically_Determinate_Str
uctures/05%3A_Internal_Forces_in_Plane_Trusses/5.06%3
A_Methods_of_Truss_Analysis#:~:text=Methods%20of%20a
nalysis%20of%20trusses,determining%20the%20member%
20axial%20force.
• Statics by RC Hibbeler, 14th Edition
• Images courtesy of Google
• Definition of a truss from Britannica.com